UC Bearcat secondary a primary concern

Nov. 23, 2010

As Saturday’s game unfolded, cornerback Reuben Johnson (shown here getting burned in the South Florida game Oct. 22) was replaced by freshman Deven Drane as the Bearcats searched for answers. University of Cincinnati coach Butch Jones said that spot is open for competition this week. / The Enquirer/Will Velarde

Written by

UC at UConn

CINCINNATI -- With his offense operating at full capacity Saturday night against Rutgers, University of Cincinnati football coach Butch Jones never let up.

It wasn’t because he was trying to run up the score to make a statement, but because, as he said Monday, “I never felt comfortable.”

Rutgers’ offense, which entered the game ranked last in the Big East, was having a productive night of its own and Jones couldn’t afford to relax, mainly because his defensive secondary couldn’t stop the Scarlet Knights, who passed for 400 yards and five touchdowns in a 69-38 loss.

The secondary has been a problem for UC all season. The Bearcats, who lost starting quarterback Dominique Battle to a torn ACL in the Sept. 25 Oklahoma game, start three sophomores and a junior back there, but defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs says that’s no excuse.

“Youth is too easy of a crutch,” Coombs said. “Their youth and their inexperience aren’t good excuses for some of the coverage mistakes that we’ve made. That comes down to attention to detail and discipline. I love those kids and we’re working hard to correct it and they’re going to get better.”

Time is running out. The Bearcats have only two regular-season games remaining and must win both to become bowl eligible for a fifth straight year.

They were able to prevail against Rutgers because their offense was so potent, but Coombs knows that won’t always be the case.

UC ranks last in the Big East in total defense, passing defense and interceptions but second in rushing defense. Clearly, opponents have figured out that the Bearcats are highly susceptible to the pass.

All they have to do is look at the numbers. UC has surrendered 252.9 yards per game and 24 touchdowns through the air, nine more than Rutgers, which is next to last in the league.

What disturbs Coombs the most is not just that his charges are getting beat, but that too many times they’re out of position.

“It’s like they’re so focused on one thing that they don’t see everything,” Coombs said. “And they have to. It’s having a vision. It’s being able to see the field and not be locked into one guy.”

Last week, Rutgers began the game with a 51-yard touchdown pass and started the second half with a 66-yard touchdown pass. Both times there was no UC defender in sight.

“If you’re in a challenging situation and you get beat one-on-one in a coverage situation, that happens,” Coombs said. “If you leave a guy wide open, that’s something that can’t happen. They’re justifiably embarrassed about it. I’m embarrassed about it.”

As the game unfolded Saturday, cornerback Reuben Johnson was replaced by true freshman Deven Drane as the Bearcats searched for answers. Jones said that spot is open for competition this week.

“You don’t like to put a true freshman out there and his eyes are wide, but that’s where we’re at, “Jones said. “We have get Deven Drane better. We have to get Reuben Johnson better. Cam Cheatham needs to continue to improve and they will.”

Coombs is willing to try just about anything to solve the problem, including asking the offense to throw more deep balls in practice this week to help his players work on their weaknesses.

“They’re not bad kids,” Coombs said. “They’re not bad players. The responsibility for the back end of the defense is mine and theirs and we’re working together and this week we’re going to be significantly improved.”